Bernice Sims

Bernice Sims lived near Brewton, Alabama in the rural community of Hickory Hill. A hardworking single mother of six, she was active in the Civil Rights Movement in the 60's and the March in Selma was a favorite subject in her paintings.

Encouraged to paint "her way" by Larry Manning, long time friend and her art instructor, Bernice graced us with her interpretation of everyday life and it's struggles until her passing in October of 2014.

The six paintings of civil rights protest subjects shown below were painted during the later years of Bernice's life. She painted them as a series showing the struggles and unfair conditions that people of color endured in their road to equality. Always a favorite subject, these paintings serve to remind us of the civil rights movement in the 60's and her enduring efforts to help highlight her people's thirst for equality.